Packing casing head



Oct. II, 1932. A. G. HEGGEM 1,881,556

PACKING CASING HEA D Filed March 12. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 11, G,HEGGEM PACKING CASING HEAD Filed March 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 z 2; gg

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0d. 11, 1932. A HEGGEM 1,881,556

PACKING GAS ING HEAD Filed March 12. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 kw QR Patented Oct. 11, 1932 P TENT OFFICE ALFRED e. nneenm, or TULSA, oxmnom PLCKING CASING HEAD Application filed larch 12, 1930. Serial No.- 435,078.

This invention relates to a packing casing head for oil wells providingmeans for suspendmg'strings' of casing in concentric relat 1on and forpreventing-blow-outs by controlllng gas pressure which may occur betweenadjacent strings of casing.

The principal object of the invention is to afford an eificient packingcasing head of simple' form which. may be easily assembled. A

10 further'object of the invention is to produce a device of thecharacter indicated in which it is not necessary to employ tongs forefiecting the assembly of the external casing head mem er's. a

- 1 Another object of the invention is to provide effective meansforpacking joints betwee'n' the gas outlets with which the casing 4 headmembersare respectively provided.-

I In the drawings illustrating the invention, @Q the scope whereof ispointed out in the claims Figure-1 is. a side elevational view of apacking casing hea embodying the invention as employed for thesuspension of a plurality of strings of easing, showing also therelation of a tubing head thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the 1 construction shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of packing casing.head involving the invention. I

Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the form of packing casinghead illustrated in Figure 3. v i

In the drawings, 1 indicates a flange memher which is screw threaded onits interior, as at 2, to enable it to be screwed on to the I upperthreaded endof the outer stringtof well casing 3. This bottom flange 1is usually installed in a'cellar beneath the derrick floor of the oilwell and may be supported in any ,well known or desired manner. It isformed with anupwardly facing surface 4 constitutinga seat for thepacking head memher 5 immediately above it andis provided with anupwardly projecting marginal collar 6 serving to center the head; Thesurface of the flange memberl beneath the superimposed packing head 5is-circ ularly grooved or' recessed, as at Z, toreceive a packing ringof rubber or other suitable material 8 for sealing the joint beneath theflange meinber 1 and the adjacent packing head member 5.

The packing recess 7 is preferably located at the junction of theupstanding collar 6 and I the upwardly facing interior surface 4 of theflange member 1, both because of convenience of manufacture andeffectiveness. -As a means for securing the packing head member 5 inassembled relation to the flange 1, the upstanding. collar of the lattermay advantageously be formed with a series of threaded radial openingswhich receive correspondingly threaded studs or set screws 9. The innerends of these set screws by cooperating with the conical or bevelledexterior surface 10 of the packing head serve to secure the head to theflange and to force it firmly downward against the. underlying packingring 8.

The packing head member 5'is of general ring-like form. It is providedwith one or more fluid'outlet passages 11 communicating with theinterior of the packing head, suitable pipes 12 being threaded into saidoutlet openings and valves (not shown) being installed in the pipes forcontrolling the flow of fluid in the usual manner.

Upon its interior and above the inner-ends of the outlet passages 11,the packing head is formed with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 13which is preferably bevelled so as to incline downwardly toward thelongitudinal axis of the head. This shoulder provides a seat for acorrespondingly bevelled metallic ring 14 whichis split so t t it may beplaced in position after the casing is connected up. The recessedinterior surface 15 of the packing head above the upwardly facingannular shoulder 13 also recelves another split ring of metal 16 whoseupper face is bevelled so as to incline downwardly and inwardly. Betweenthese split follower rings a packing ring 17 of rubber or other suitablematerial is interposed. On its underside the packing head is fashionedwith a downwardly opening recess 18 for receiving the upper end of acasing collar 19 between which and'the under surface of the packing head5 a suitable packing 20, such as rubber, is interposed,

the rubber packin preferably being tioned in an arm ar groove 21 into wch osithe upper end of the neighboring casing 001- lar 19 projects. .Asshown in thedrawings, the outer ,wall 22 of the recess 18' of the packmg head preferably flares downwardly somewhat so as to facilitate theentry of the upper end of the cooperating casing collar 19. 7 At itslower end-the packing head is preferably formed with an exteriorbevelled oiiconical surface for cooperating withjthc set screws 9.

The upper surface of the packing head is provided with an annular seator surface 23 j which underlies the opposed packing head above it.Encircling this annular surface and projecting upwardl above it is acircular collar 24 carrying a series of threaded set screws 9 whichserve to; secureadjacent packing head members in assembled relation inthe same manner that set screws 9 heretofore described serve to securethe. lowermost packing head member 5 to the flange memher 1 which ismounted upon the outer casing. To provide means for anchoring thepacking casing heads each head member 5 is preferably fashioned withoppositely arranged projecting anchor lugs 25 which may be convenientlyformed as grooved bosses or spools through which the fluid outletpassages 11 extend. Anchor bolts 26 pass around the anchor lugs and aresuitably secured at their lower ends. It will beunderstood that theseanchor bolts may cooperate with the top packmaybe. -Near its upper endit is provided 'withan external downwardly facing annular shoulder 42for cooperating with the split ring 16 that is immediately above thepacking 17, said shoulder, as vin the case of the' ring 16, preferablybeing bevelled so as to taper downwardly. The collar is formed with anupwardly-extending annular portion 30 adapted to enter the (downwardlyopening packing recess or groove 21- in the under. surface of thesuperimposed packing head member 5. As shown in the drawings,

the upper end of this annular flange portion 3O ofthe casing collar mayadvantageously be bevelled or inclined in opposite directions so as notonly to facilitateits entry into the packing recess 21 butalso toeffectively force the packing 20 into. intimate contact with the wallsofsaid recess. It will be understood that the number of casing headmembers5 andcasing collars 6 that are employed varies with the number ofgstrings'of casing. At its upper end the device is provided with meansfor holding down the inner string of easing, such means preferably beingformed as a top fitting or cap 31 through which the inner string ofeasing passes and which is provided at its base with a tapering orconical surface 32' with which the set screws 9 carried by thev adjacentcasing head member 5cooperate to I maintain the capimember 31 securelyin place. The top member 31 fits telescopically over the upper end "ofthe adjacent casing collar 19.' As the packing heads, casing collars,

split ring followers, packingsand connecting 5 set screws are the samein form and function and differ only in size in accordance with thediameter of the casing,- these parts and'their details of constructionhave been identified throughout the drawings by corresponding referencenumerals.

For the purpose of showing its relation thereto'the packing casing headhas been illustrated in association with a tubing head having a body 33provided with pipes 34 permitting the outflow of oil from the spacebetween the innercasing 29 and the tubing 35.

Secured to the upper end of the body, 33 by set screws 36isa spider37within which are slips 38 for clamping the tubing. The jointbetween thebody 33 and spider 37 is sealed suitable packing 39, while a follower 40which is adjustably secured to the spider by set screws 41 serves tocompress packing material between said follower and the underlyingslips. In setting the packing casing head the lowerflange 1 is screwedon to the upper end of theouter string of casing 3 and the lowermostpacking head 5 is seated thereon and :secured thereto by means of thecooperating set screws 9 carried by the flange member. The casing collar19 which is to be secured-to-the upper end of the immediately adjacentinner string of casing 27 is then screwed onto the lower endof a jointor section of casing of appropriate diameter, which serves as anelevator joint and by which the collar 19 is lowered and screwed ontothe upper end of the casing 27. 'It is then raised above the encirclingpacking'head 5 until its downwardly facing external shoulder 42 isplaced in position. As these rings are split they may be brought intoassembled'position" after the casing is connected up.'- The string ofcasing 27 is then lowered and its weight,

acting through the shpulder; 42, causes the packing 17 to be compressedbetween the follower" rings 14 and 16, thus forming a fluid 11-'.'.abovethe upper surface of the adjacent head 7 i member 5, afterwhichfthe split ring 14 is dropped on to the interior; shoulder 13 ofthe head member and the rubber packing ring 17 v and the adjacent uppersplit ring '16 are.

type joint between the casing collar 19 and v the encircling packinghead member 5. -The elevator joint is then backed off from itsscrew'threaded engagement with the casing collar 19, and the next head memberis lowered into place, being secured to the member 5 be low it bythe'set'screws 9 which, by cooperating with the exterior bevelled face10 of the upper'head member serve to force the'latter downwardly so asto compress the packing 20, thus forming-a fluid tight joint between theupper end of the casing collar 19 .and'the packinghea'd member nextabove it. This process isrepeated as often as is necessary, dependingupon the number of strings of casing, each packing head 5 which is putin place serving, by its weight,- to increase the effectiveness'of thepackings at the joints between the casing collars and the packing heads5. When the uppermost casingcollarlil has been put in position'thetop'fitting' or cover flange 31 is placed thereon and secured to theupper casing headmember 5 by means of the set screws 9. The-cover flangeor top cap-31(thus prevents the inner string-of casing 29 from rising.tying it to the entire set of casing heads. By this means the outer'strings of easing lend their strength in resisting the blowing out.of-the inner string of casing. v r i In the modified form of theinvention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the component: sections orheads are secured together by bolts 43 instead of by means of thesetscrews 9 as heretofore described. Except for this difference andslight changes in the form of oarts,the' modified form ofthe inventionis ;imilar to that illustrated in Figures 1 and Z of the drawings and,therefore, requires )ut brief description? The lower flange nember 44which'is. screwedonto the upper and of the outer string ofcasingfi isprorided with a series ofopenings 45* for-Jthe )olts and is suitablyrecessed, asat 46, to 'eceive the heads of the latter, the seats for:aid bolt heads being preferably bevelledr or nclined, as' indicated at66, to permit the iolts to converge or incline ,upwardl'y toward thelongitudinal axis of the' device.- For the purpose of sealing the jointbetweenhe lower flange member 44 and the packing lead member 47immediately above it, the lange. member may advantageously be iormed atthe top with an upwardly proecting annular collar 48 extending into alownwar'dly opening-groove or recess 49 in be under surfaceof theadjacent headmemer, a packing ring 50 ofrubberior other uitablefmaterialbeing positioned 'in the ecess above thelupwardly projecting colll. '1 IH1 Each of thepacking'head members 47 is? ormed with gas outlets 51.which are threadd for suitable pipe'connections; and each ead' member isalso fashioned with oppoitely disposed anchor lugs 52 for coperat- 1gwith anchor bolts 53 corresponding to ie anchorbolts whose purpose hasbeen here- --the casing collar and the hers 47 to be readily handled andraised and lowered by means of hooks and chains and the like, each headmember. may advanta-' members 47 is formed witlran upwardly facingshoulder 55whichis preferably bevelled; This shoulder forms a seat for acorrespondingly bevelled split metal ring-56 between which andanhpper'split metal ring 57, a

rubber packing ring 58 is interposed.

The shouldered casing collars: 59 preferably correspond in form andfunction to the casing collars 19 employed in the form of the devicealready described, each resting upon the split follower ring 57 that isimmediately below it and projecting at its upper end into the packingrecess 49 in the under vsurface of the superposed casing head member'47Amubber ring 60 or other suitable packing material disposed in. therecess 49 packs the joint between the upper end of packing head member47 next above it. i The top fitting or cover flange member 61 whichencircles the innermost string of casing and transversely overlaps theend of the'uppermost casing collar 59 is provided with a; flange 62having holes 45 therein suit:

ably spaced for receiving the bolts 43, the upper surface, of the flangeadjacent the bolt holes being inclined to form seats for the nuts 63.Each 'of the head members 47 is likewise preferably provided at itsupper "end with an inclined or dished marginal flange 64 throughopenings in which the bolts 43 extend. -If desired, a packing ring 65 ofrubber or other suitable material may be interposed between the coverflange member 61 and the; casing collar 59 mounted on the innermoststring of casing. The manner of assembling the form of the deviceillustrated in Figures 3 and 4 issimilar to that heretofore described,

A packing casing head constructed in accordance with .the invention hasthe advantages of simplicity, readiness of attachment and effectivenessof result. he necessity for employingtongsto tighten the casingheadmembers is avoided as no screw threads are employed in connectingthe heads to. the casing: and thereare but two packing joints to eachhead member, one above the gas outlet and one below i I claim:

1. A casing head for oil wells embodying a head member hating an openingtherethrough and a fluid escape outlet communicating with" saidopeni'ng.means adapted to be mounted upon an outer string of cas toforeexplained. To enable the head mem ing for supporting said head member, acasing collar projecting into said opening and.

threaded for connection with an inner string of casing, means extendingover the upper end of said collar for normally preventing upwardmovement of the latterwith respect to said head member, means forretaining said last named means in assembled relation to the headmember, and a plurality ofpackjug means one of which is interposed between the casing collar and said head member and one of which isinterposed between the casing collar and said meansfor preventingupwardmovement of the latter.

2. A casing head for oil wells embodying a plurality ofliead memberseach having an opening therethrough and a fluid escape ou letcommunicatingtherewith, said head menieating with said opening, saidhead member,

bers being arranged one above another, a plurality of casingcollars eachthreaded upon its interior for connection with a corresponding string ofcasing, said collars respectively projecting into said openings of thehead members andbeing so formed that they may be slid into said openingsfrom above, a plurality of packing means respectively interposed betweenone ofsaid casing collars and successive head members adjacent thereto,and means for maintaining said head members in assembled relation. 3. Acasing head for oil wells embodying :in integral head member'having anopening tliei ethrough for receiving a casing collar and having a fluidescape outlet communibeing provided with an interior shoulder,

means adapted to be mounted upon a string of casing for supporting saidhead member, a casing collar pro ecting into said opening and threadedfor connection with a string of easing, said collar being providedbetween its ends with .an exterior shoulder wh ch radially overlapssaidinterior shoulder of the head, and means including a'split ringinterposedbetweensaid shoulders for 1 supporting said casing collar onsaid head an integral head member having an opening member, said splitring being" disposed within said opening of the head member and sub:

stantially conforming to; said opening.

4. A casing head for oil wells embodying th crethi'ough for receiving acasingcollar and hav ng a fluid escape outlet communicating with saidopening, said head/member being provided with an interiorbevelled slidinto said opening from' above, a plurality of bevelled split packingrings, one

of said rings cooperating with the bevelled shoulder on said head memberand the other cooperating with the bevelled shoulder of said casingcollar, and'packing means interposed between said rings.

5. A casing head for oil wells embodying a, head member having anopening therethrough and a fluid escape outlet communi- :cating withsaid opening and. having upon its under side a recess adapted toreceivethe upper end of a casing .collar, a casing collar projectinginto said opening and threaded interiorly for connection with a stringof casing and projecting at its upper end into said recess, meansformaintaining saidcollar in said recess, means for supporting said headmember, and means for maintaining ,said head member in assembledrelation to said supporting means;

' 6. A casing head for 011 wells embodying a head member having anopening, therewith said opening and providedwithanoutwardly projectinganchor lug through which through for receiving a casingcollar and havinga fluid escape outlet communicating said fluid outlet extends, meansadapted to be, mounted upon an outer string of casing for supportingsaid head member, a casing collar. projecting into said opening andthreaded interiorly for connection withan' inner string-of casing, meansfor supporting said'casing collar on said head member,

means for securing said head member in assembled position, and means fornormally preventing-upward movement ofsaid casing collar with respect tosaid head member.

7 A casing head for oil wells embodying I a lower flange memberadaptedto beinounted upon an outer-string of casing, an upper flangemember, one or more head membersinterposed between said lower flangemember and said upper flange member, one or more;- casing collarsarranged between said lower flange member and said upper flange member,means for maintaining said flaiigemei'nbers 'andheads and collars inassembled' relation, each of said head members having an openingtherethrough' for ceiving a casing collar and having a fluid escape out:let communicating-with said opening and provided with an interiorshoulder, each of said casing collars projecting into the said openingof an adjacent head member and being so formed that it may be slidii tosaid opening ,from above and being interiorlv threaded for connectionwith an inner string ofeasing and-being provided with an eX- teriorshoulder, a plurality of split rings respectively engaging saidshoulders, and packing means interposed between said split rings.

8. A casing head for oil wells, said head involving means for supportinga string of k I L casing includinfia, member having an ening therethrougfor receivinga'collarw ich I 1 is imteriorly threaded for connectionwith a string of casing, a head member provided 5 upon its undersidewith a recess adapted to receive the upper endof said collar, said firstnlamedmember beingprovided with an upwardly facing shoulder and saidcollar being formed between its ends with a downwardly. R1facing'shoulder spaced upwardly from said "upwardly facingshoulder,'means interposed y between said shoulders or supporting saidcollar on said first named member, and means v for maintaining saidcollar in said recess of Y the head member. r r s 1 In testimony whereofI aflix my si 'ature. ALFRED-G. HEG EM.

des

